Many people around the world deal with unwanted, excess fat when they look in the mirror. They’d love to see a thinner, smoother physique, but diet and exercise haven’t proven to give them the results they desire. Sure, diet and exercise help, but for many, they lose weight but still have those few extra inches in hard-to-lose areas, such as the abdomen or under the chin.
Finally, these people begin to do research to see what they can do to lose the extra inches beyond diet and exercise. While doing research, Liposuction and CoolSculpting come up in the search engines or by word-of-mouth as viable options to lose excess fat.
So, what’s the difference and which is best for you? Great question! To make it as simple and clear as possible, we’ve provided the highlights in list form below.
What is CoolSculpting, and how does it work?
We’re so excited to share CoolSculpting and its benefits as a great alternative to losing unwanted fat without going under the knife! FDA-cleared in 2010, it was the first non-surgical procedure to remove unwanted fat from the body.
Highlights:
- CoolSculpting is non-invasive.
- No anesthesia is required.
- There’s no downtime after the procedure (patients can resume normal activities immediately).
- The non-invasive CoolSculpting applicator lowers the temperature of the fat cells for 35 to 45 minutes.
- Patients report minimal discomfort when the target area is being cooled.
- The treated area may feel mildly tender for several days.
- The fat cells will die in 2 to 3 days and are eliminated from the body through the body’s natural elimination process
- It takes four to six weeks to see initial results, with maximum results achieved in three to four months.
- CoolSculpting is great for smaller areas of fat deposits and for those looking to lose the hard-to-lose fat around the abdomen, arms, inner and outer thighs, under the chin, and around the waistline and back.
- It’s a great alternative to liposuction in order to avoid the health risks associated with surgery.
- It’s possible to treat several body areas in a single session.
- Results can be seen after a single treatment, with additional treatments offering even further fat reduction.
- CoolSculpting can be used to target small areas of fat deposits, like those under the chin.
- Dramatic full body contouring can be achieved with the Treatment to Transformation protocol
- Fat is permanently removed.
What is Liposuction, and how does it work?
Developed in the 1980s, liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted fat throughout the body.
Highlights:
- Liposuction is a surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or full general anesthesia.
- The approach to anesthesia depends on the area being treated and amount of fat being removed (the more areas being treated and the more fat, the more aggressive the approach to anesthesia).
- There is some scarring, with most incisions being about 1/4 inch in size.
- The recovery period may last for a few weeks.
- Bruising and swelling are common during the recovery period.
- Patients can sometimes resume light activities or exercise a few days after surgery.
- It’s a surgical treatment, so large amounts of fat can be removed in a single session.
- Liposuction can be used to harvest fat and transfer it to another area of the body.
- It’s possible to treat several body areas in a single session.
- Liposuction is typically more costly than CoolSculpting for a single treatment.
- Fat is permanently removed.
Is CoolSculpting or Liposuction better for you?
If surgery isn’t a concern and you have a large amount of excess fat, then liposuction might be right for you. Alternatively, CoolSculpting is a safe alternative to reduce those few extra inches of stubborn, unwanted fat in hard-to-lose areas as described above.
With over four million CoolSculpting procedures performed worldwide, the results speak for themselves. Dr. Gerrish is the Medical Director for CoolSculpting University and has performed more than 7000 treatments. As one happy patient, Kathy G., shared:
“I had CoolSculpting by Zeltiq on my abdomen for a stubborn bulge that just would not respond to diet and exercise. Not only were Dr. Gerrish and his staff amazing, but the results were truly impressive. For me, the treatment did not hurt. Actually, I fell asleep halfway through the treatment. While I did have some mild cramping and itching after the treatment, it was very tolerable and resolved in a week or so. Within several weeks, I began to notice my bulge shrink bit by bit. In total, I’ve lost a total of two inches from my lower abdomen. My stomach is much flatter and the bulge is gone. I would totally recommend this treatment! Dr. Gerrish is a Genius!”
Individual results vary based on the amount of fat being treated, the area of fat treated, and the number of treatments performed.
Contact Gerrish MedEsthetics today for your free, private, consultation to determine if CoolSculpting is the right alternative for you.